The mysterious "sonar-like" sounds reported by Nasa astronaut Butch Wilmore aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have been identified.
Nasa said that the eerie sound reported by Willmore was coming from an audio feedback.
The pulsing noises, which emanated from a speaker in Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, had sparked widespread speculation and concern over the weekend.
Nasa's Commercial Crew Program explained that the unusual sounds were the result of an audio configuration issue between the space station and Starliner. The agency emphasized that such occurrences are not uncommon due to the complex nature of the ISS audio system, which interconnects multiple spacecraft and modules.
"The space station audio system is complex, allowing multiple spacecraft and modules to be interconnected, and it is common to experience noise and feedback," Nasa stated. The agency also noted that astronauts are routinely instructed to report any unusual sounds to mission control as part of standard operating procedures.
Importantly, Nasa assured that the speaker feedback reported by Wilmore poses no technical threat to the crew, Starliner, or station operations. This includes the upcoming uncrewed undocking of Starliner from the ISS, which is scheduled for no earlier than Friday, September 6.
The incident had initially raised concerns due to Starliner's troubled history, including technical issues that have kept astronauts Wilmore and Sunita Williams aboard the ISS for nearly three months instead of the planned eight-day mission.
However, Nasa's swift explanation has allayed fears of any new complications with the spacecraft.
As Starliner prepares for its uncrewed return to Earth, Nasa continues to monitor all aspects of the mission closely.
The resolution of this audio mystery marks another step in Starliner's journey, as Boeing and Nasa work to establish the spacecraft as a reliable means of transporting astronauts to and from the ISS, amid wide concerns.
With the source of the strange noises identified and resolved, attention now turns to Starliner's upcoming departure from the space station and its critical return flight to Earth.
